Vin Baker, who was declared a free agent by an arbitrator on Thursday, has chosen the New York Knicks over the Miami Heat, a source familiar with the situation told Bloomberg News on Friday.

The former All-Star had the remaining two years and $35 million of his contract voided by the Celtics on Feb. 18 after he was suspended twice for violating his alcohol-treatment program. He has filed a grievance to get the contract reinstated, and an arbitrator will hear the case next month. Baker will earn the prorated portion of the veteran's minimum salary of $1 million, or about $11,000 a game.

Baker will join the Knicks tonight in Philadelphia for their game against the 76ers, the source told Bloomberg.

In Baker's grievance against the NBA, which was argued Monday, arbitrator Roger Kaplan invalidated a league memo barring all 29 teams from signing Baker until his other grievance -- against the Boston Celtics -- is settled.

Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, spent the latter part of Thursday speaking with the Knicks and Heat when Baker decided he did not want to play for the Raptors -- the third team that was pursuing him until the NBA sent out its March 1 memo barring any team from signing Baker.

Kaplan set an initial hearing date of April 12 for Baker's case against the Celtics, who terminated the remaining 2˝ years of Baker's contract -- worth $35 million -- after he missed 10 games while on suspension for violating terms of his alcohol treatment program.

The NBA argued if Baker were to win his case against Boston, he'd have to return to the Celtics because his contract would be reinstated. The players' union argued Baker should have a right to seek employment elsewhere while his case against the Celtics is pending.

"Clearly the NBA and Boston have to be concerned about this preliminary ruling," union director Billy Hunter said. "We're confident that when the matter is heard we'll get a favorable ruling in the underlying case."

The union advised Baker that if he signs with the Knicks or Heat, it should only be for the remainder of this season. Additional hearings in Baker's case against the Celtics were set for April 13, 26 and 27.

"We obviously disagree with the arbitrator's decision, but have elected not to appeal and to allow Mr. Baker to sign a contract with another team," Rick Buchanan, NBA senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.

Baker, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, was averaging 11.0 points and 5.7 rebounds for Boston before being suspended.

Bah. This is a move that looks good on paper but could end up backfiring in a big freakin' way for the Knicks if Baker relapses again.

If the Knicks think that signing Baker is gonna put 'em over the top in the Eastern Conference, they got another thing coming. There are still at least three teams that are better than them and have a more reliable power forward (I'm talking about the Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal, the Nets' Kenyon Martin, and the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace-- which is ironic for me to say because I'm one of Wallace's biggest critics).

On the other hand, the New York media is known for being very kind to athletes with medical conditions, so I'm sure reading a few New York Times articles about himself will help Vin cheer up just like that.

(Oh, wait, sorry, I'm wrong... actually the New York media is the biggest collection of bone-licking predators this side of the Serengeti).

If Baker thought the pressure was tough playing in Milwaukee, Seattle and Boston, just wait until he's playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

Oh please let Vin help the Knicks miss the playoffs. And then, for good measure, have the unprotected #1 they sent to the Suns win the lottery. Of course, listening to WFAN even a month ago, I was under the assumption that Isiah and Co. had booked the Canyon of Heroes for the NBA Title celebration, as they were the odds on favorites to win the NBA title, considering they had the leadership of Marbury and his zero playoff round wins.

Pondering whether the world is ready for the Red Sox Nation Lawrence Welk Workrate Report.

Originally posted by redsoxnationOh please let Vin help the Knicks miss the playoffs. And then, for good measure, have the unprotected #1 they sent to the Suns win the lottery. Of course, listening to WFAN even a month ago, I was under the assumption that Isiah and Co. had booked the Canyon of Heroes for the NBA Title celebration, as they were the odds on favorites to win the NBA title, considering they had the leadership of Marbury and his zero playoff round wins.

RSN, considering that Stern was on the C's side in this case, I'm sure he's not too happy with the Knicks signing him. And he's probably not happy with the other teams (Miami, Toronto) that inquired about signing him too.

Originally posted by ekedolphinThis is kinda a strange thing, though. Say Baker plays through the rest of the season with the Knicks, and then he wins his arbitration hearing and his Celtics contract is re-instated.

He just goes back to the Celtics, just like that? But suppose Baker doesn't wanna go back to the Celtics, what then? He's S.O.L.?

If he goes back to the C's, he gets about 30 million over the next two years, so if that is S.O.L., I'd like that to happen to me.

Pondering whether the world is ready for the Red Sox Nation Lawrence Welk Workrate Report.